Watching this tragedy unfold, child psychologist Robert Coles offered Ruby counseling. Once a week, he sat in the humble home she shared with four siblings and her parents, who could neither read nor write. “You looked like you were talking to the people in the street on your way into school yesterday,” he said on one occasion. “Did you finally get angry with them? Were you telling them to leave you alone?” “No, doctor,” replied Ruby politely. “I didn’t tell them anything. I didn’t talk to them.” “Well, who were you talking to?” The little girl stared at him. “I was talking to God. I was
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